Question

Glucose is a covalent compound which is neither acidic nor basic. When dissolved in water, glucose exists predominantly as __________ in solution.

Answer 1

When dissolved in water, glucose exists predominantly as a cyclic structure in solution, with either an alpha or beta orientation.

Step-by-step explanation:

When glucose is dissolved in water, it exists predominantly as a cyclic structure in solution.

Glucose can form either an alpha or beta ring structure, depending on the arrangement of the hydroxyl group around the anomeric carbon. The alpha form has the hydroxyl group of carbon 1 below the plane, while the beta form has it above the plane.

In aqueous solution, glucose molecules become uniformly distributed among the water molecules, with the hydroxyl groups forming hydrogen bonds with water molecules.